Means for handling articles



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"May 110, 1927. 1 628,618 H. K. SPENCER MEANS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES Fil ed Oct. 6'. 1 922 5 sheets-sheet 3 54 Eye. 54'! 'llnlb 62 I [iii/622202: Y flenzjyll. Spencer,

Eateuted 5 a y y *3 W Henna" oswnennrowiv, ranssnonusnrrs, ASSIG'NOR T0 rHEBLANoncentres Y, cameraman,- MASSACHUSETTS, A conronerroitor MASSACEUSETTS.

MEANS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES.

Application filed October 6, 1922. Serial-No. 592,739.

This invention aims to provide a novel and improved means for handling work pieces in connection with metal working i'uacliines, such as surface grinders.

The invention will be best understood by 'ei erence to the followingdescription, when drawings of one specific'embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of a surface grinding machine exemplifying the invention;

- Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same as viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the machine as viewed from the right-hand sideot' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 44 of Fig. l, illustrating the operation of the magazine;

Fig. 5 is a detail, sectional view on an enlarged scale online 5 5 of Fig. 1, illustrating an unloading device;

Fig. 6 isa sectional view onan enlarged scale on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 77 of Fig. 1; and

' Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electric circuit arrangements.

Referring to the drawings, and to the'embodiment of the invention which isselected tor exemplification, there is'shown (see Fig. 3) a metal working tool, specifically a vertical surface grinder, whose general characteristics are similar to that which is the subjectmatter of U.'S. Letters Patent No. 1,182,861, issued May 9, 1916,to which reference may be had for details not disclosed herein. The machine is provided with an annular grinding wheel 8, mounted on a vertical spindle 10 carried by a wheel head 12, which is mounted to slide vertically on ways 14 presented by a column 16, the latter being supported by a base 18.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the base provides support for annular, horizontal bearings 20, and an annular, vertical bearing 22, for a chuck body 24 of magnetic material. The bearings 20 afiord a support for. the chuck body, while the bearing 22 holds the same properly centered. The body is rotated by a suitable mechanism, herein a spurgear 26,

1 taken in connection with the accompanying conveniently formed' as an integral part of the'chuck body, and driven by a pinion 28 indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. The directions. of rotation of the chuck body and the grinding wheel, respectively, are indicated the arrows A, and B. Rotation of L the chuck body carries beneath the grinding wheel work pieces supported on the face of the chuck body.

'The articles to, be ground or otherwise operated on are automatically fed ontothe chuck body'byieedlng means, in this example a vertical magazine 30, herein comprising two channel-shaped guides 32 and 134, in which the articles are placed in a vertical stack. The magazine is mounted on a suitable support 36, which for convenience in removing the magazine from its normal position above the chuck is mounted on a pivot 38 on a bracket 40, whichis'a ttached tothe base 18. Angular adjustment ofthe the magazine may be swung entirely out of the way of the chuck. V The magazine'feedsthe articles in succession into pockets carried by the chuck, the character of these pockets depending upon the shape of the articles. .Referring'to Fig.

1,111 the present example, each pocket is :tormedby four cleats arranged in pairs, the members of each pa1r being designated, re-

spectively, 46 and 48. These cleats may be secured to the face of the chuck, as by screws 50. The thickness or height. of these cleats is such as to enable them to pass beneath the magazine with a slight clearance. That side,

of the magazine which faces in the direction of travel of the chuck, and in Fig. 4 is exby the channel 34, terminates at a which .is a suflicient height above permit the loweremplified point 52, the face of the chuck to most article to enter one of the pockets, and to becarried forwarclxby the rotation of the chuck without interference Thusjthe articles are transferredone by one from the magazine to the face of the. chuck, and they are carried in succession beneath the grinding wheel.

While the pockets may be relied upon to prevent displacement of the articles horizontally. yet it is desirable to provide means to hold the articles firmly onto the face of the chuck. To thisend, I have provided the magnetic 11163115 which will now be described, reference being had at first to Fi 6. The chuck body 2% presents an annular chamber 54 for one or more, herein aseries of magnets 56,-having windings 58 (See Fi 8) wound in the same direction, connected to each other in series and receiving current from a suitable source 60, the terminals of which are connected to the coilsby leadwires 62 and (i l. The area of the chuck face served by these magnets is lessthan the total 1 area, and herein is a zone of somewhat less than 180 degrees. To confine the magnetic flux; to this zone, the chuck bodyis suitably slotted and grooved. Inthe present example, the face of the chuck body is provided with radial grooves 66 (see Fig. 7), which may be filled with non-magnetic strips 68 to exclude foreign matter therefrom. The taco may be further provided with annular grooves 70, filled with non-magnetic rings T2 for a like purpose. These annular grooves divide the lace of the chuck body into a multiplicity oi small pole pieces, after the manner of the chuck which is :the subject matter of U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,125,198, issued to me January 19, 1915. The radial grooves intersect the annular ones, and are preferably shallower than the latter, the annular strips being notched to receive the radial strips, as should be evident from an examination of Fig. 7. The chuck body is further provided with two sets of radial slots 74 and T6, to assist in the localization ot the magnetic zone: and, to strengthen the chuck body where it is so cut away, I have provided inner and outer non-magnetic rings 78 and 80, received in grooves 82 and 81-. respectively, provided in the chuck body.

Vrhile' the chuck body is mounted to rotate. the magnets in the present example are fixed. and they are conveniently supported on a non-n'iagnetic ring 86, on which the bearings 20 and are formed. It will be evident from an inspection of 7 thatthere comparatively little of the chuck body which presents a continuous annular connection between the segments formed by the described radial. grooves and slots.so little, in fact, that the magnetic leakage from one to another is very slight. It is therefore apparentthat the influence of the magnets will extend practically to only the chuck body segments with whichthey are associated. In other words, the magnetic zone is substantially confined to the area which is adjacent to the magnets. The commencement of the magnetic zone may be directly beneath the n'iagazine, and the magnetic pull may be utilized to assist gravity in the operation oil feeding articles from the magazine into the pockets carried by the chuck. This a rrangemcut is shown in the-drawings, there being a magnet directly under the magazine. in handling some classes of articles. however, the best results are secured by relying;- on gravity alone to Feed the articles from the magazine to the pockets, and in such cases, the magnet. which as herein shown is directly beneath the magazine, is omitted.

It should be evident from the foregoing that, during the passage of the articles through the magnetic zone, they are held in place magnetically on the chuck face, and

they are additionally heldagainst horizontal displacement by the lateral walls of the pockets. It should here be noted that the articles themselves may be magnetic pieces, or non-magnetic articles may be secured to magnetic holders. Various kinds of work, such as grinding, maybe performed on the work pieces during their passage through the magnetic zone, and after the work is completed, the articles pass out of the magnetic zone into the non-magnetic zone, where they are released and can be removed by hand or by automatic means, such as that presently to be described.

To ensure prompt demagnetization and release of the n'iagnetic pieces, and to assist in confining the influenceot the magnetizing coils to the desired area-,.there-may be provided any suitable number of? releasing magnets, herein amagnet 88 having a winding 90 suitably connected in circuit with the source of current 60, there being provided a rheostat 92 in series with the magnet for, the purpose of. varying the effectiveness of the latter. This is found desirable in practice, large and small, and hard and soft, pieces of work differ in theextent to which they become magnetized, and in the corresponding strength required of the releasing magnet to demagnetize or release them. I pret'er to provide in addition to the rheostat a resistance coil 94: in series with the rheostat and the releasing magnet, the use of this resistance permits the employment of a rheostat smaller in size than would otherwise be necessary. v

To ensure the release of particles of magnetic material which might adhere to the face of the chuck and thereby interfere with the accurate placing of subsequent work pieces thereon, I prefer to provide a second releasing magnet 88, having a winding 90 located at a suit-able point rearwardly of the magazine. considered with reference to the travel of the chuck. Removal. of such particles from the chuck face may be accomplished by the use of appropriate cleaning means, herein a nozzle 96 (see Figs. 1 and 1 seasie The .removal of; the articles from" it he chuck face may be accomplished automate cally by the use of suitab'ljy arranged, fixed means, herein a simplepIl-ough or scraper,

such as a plough100(see Fig.5) disposed adjacent the releasing magnet 88,.and'p-re-j senting an inclined plane 102, which" lifts the articles from the face 'of the chuck. Preferably, the latter is pi'ov-i ded"with an annular groove 10%, into which the plough extends, the" depth of; the groove being greater than that of the pockets in; which the articles are held. It follows that the terminal of the plougl-i is below the plane of the lower faces of the work pieces, and hence removal of the latter is effected in a positive manner, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 5.

The articles, having thus been lifted from the chuck, propel one another end to end along and between guides 106 to a clownwardly inclined chute 108 having similar lateral guides 110, which may direct the articles into an appropriate receptacle (not shown). If the nature of some work pieces is such that they are not completely demagnetized by the releasing magnet at the point of removalfrom the chuck, it is desirable to provide a further demagnetizing means such as a coil 112, encircling the chute 108, and connected in circuit with a source of alternating current 114. As the articles pass through this coil, they are subjected to repeated reversals of magnetism decreasing in intensity from the middle of the coil to its outlet, thereby removing measurable, residual magnetism. The coil may be supported on the base of the machine, as by abracket 116. The chute and plough may be supported by brackets 118 and 120, respectively.

The general operation and advantages of the machine should be evident fromthe foregoing without further description.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. In a work-handling mechanism. the combination of a generally horizontal, rotary Work-support presenting an annular groove, means for causing work-pieces to be deposited in a row upon said work-support over said groove which travels horizontally, means to cause said Work-pieces to be held against upward and horizontal displacement while being Worked on, and means extcndii i'g into said groove to cause the workpieces to "belift-ec l from said work-support and creole-a ed therefro 2.111 a won-handling mechanism, the combination are generally horizontal, rotary worlsupport PM enting an annular groove, means for causing work-pieces to be deposited in a row upon said work sup: port over said groove, :niean's for creating a magnet 'zo'n e into and'out of "which the w-or k-pieces are carried-by said work sulr port, and means extending into said g oove to cause the work-pieces to'be' lifted from said'work supp'ort after passing out of said zone. i

In a work-handling apparatus, the combination of a magazine for holding a stack of work-pieces, a travelling conveyor to which the work-pieces are delivere'din success-ion fromsaid magazine, means for. creating a'magn'etic zone into and out of which said work pieces'pass, and means for removing said Work-pieces from said conveyor after passing out of said magnetic zone.

4. In a work-handling apparatus,the combination of a magazine for holding a stack of work-pieces, a travelling conveyor to which the work-pieces are delivered in succession from said magazine, means for causing said Work-pieces to be held magnetically on said conveyor, and means for subjecting said work-pieces to repeated reversals of magnetism of diminishing intensity to demagnetize said work-pieces.

5. In a machine for operating on articles,

the combination of a generally upright magazine for holding a stack of the articles, a generally horizontal conveyor to which the articles are delivered in succession from said magazine, means carried by said conveyor to predetermine the positions of said articles on said conveyor, means for creating I a magnetic zone into and out of which said articles pass while being fed, means for operating on said articles while they are in said zone, and means forpcausing the dis charge of said articles from said conveyor after they have been operated upon.

6. In a machine for operating on articles, the combination of a conveyor, means for delivering a succession of articles onto said conveyor, means for performing work on the articles while on said conveyor, and means presenting an upwardly inclined plane for utilizing the forward movement of the arti cles to lift them from said conveyor and a downwardly inclined plane for utilizing gravity to discharge the articles.

7. In a machine for operating on articles, the combination of a conveyor presenting a depression, means for delivering a succession of articles onto said conveyor above means presenting an upwardly inclined plane extending into said depression for utilizing the forward movement of the articles to lift them from said conveyor and a downwardly inclined plane for utilizing gravity to discharge the articles.

8. In a metal working machine, the combination of a travelling conveyor, means for causing metal articles to be held magnetically 011 said conveyor, means for removing metal from said articles While so held, means for demagnetizing the articles after they pass the point Where the metal is removed, means for causing the removal of the articles from said conveyor, and means for causing the discharge of the removed meta from said conveyor. 1

9. In a metal Working machine, the combination of a travelling conveyor, means for causing metal articles to be held magnetically on said conveyor, means for removing metal from said articles While so held, means for demagnetizing the articles after they pass the point Where the metal is removed, means for causing the removal of the articles from said conveyor, means for demagnetizing the removed metal, and means for causing the discharge of the removed metal from said conveyor.-

l0. Ina metal Working machine, the combination of a travelling conveyor, means for causing metal articles to be held magneticaL' ly on said conveyor, means for removing metal from said articles While so held, means for demagnetizing the articles after they pass the point Where the metal is removed, means for causing the removal of the articles from said conveyor, andmeans for utilizing a fluid jet to cause the discharge of the removed metal from said conveyor.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name i to this specification.

HENRY K. SPENCER.

@F @QREKES'FEUN.

Patent No. 1,628,618. 4 Granted May 10, 1927, to

HENRY K. SWENCER It is hereby eeriified that en'ez' apeeez'e in flze primed specification of the e Eews; Page 3, line 62, claim 1,

above numbered patent requiring eerr etien e5 fei strike out the words "which emveis herizentaiiy" and insert the same before the comma and after the word "greeve" in Mae 6%; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this eemeeiioe therein than; ihe same may cenform to the record of the case in the Patent flffiee.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of June A. SW27.

M. J Moore,

Seal. Aeehg Cemmissioner of Patents.

GERTIMCATE er commence.

Patent No. 1,628,618. Granted May 1c, 1927, m

HENRY K. SPENCER.

It is hereby certified that; error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction age 3, line 62, claim 1, strike out the words "which travels iiorizonmiiy" and insert the some before the comma and after the word "groove" in line co; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein Lilfii iile erimc may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 14th day of Jone A. 1% i927,

M. J. Moore, Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

